Yes, during COVID. They have developed their own safety protocols working as a team. They enter the village homes, masked, gloved and politely ask the residents of the house to step outside while they work. Sheela has added COVID education to her health talks with the women in remote villages where information is scarce.

Is there a "silver lining" to this pandemic? For our team there is a bubble of hope emerging from the children at our installation sites. All schools in India have been closed for nearly one year now. The kids are home without access to virtual learning. When Selvam enters their village they follow him around like the pied piper. They step up to see what's going on... and insist on joining our team.

Children of all ages carry supplies, mix cement, have a go with the finishing trowel, hold the chimney pipe, pass it up to Selvam on the roof and watch the smoke leave their living space as the first fire is lit. Watching the smile on their mothers' faces is confirmation that they are on to something good for the whole family! We have observed that the older children often absorb and retain the "how to" instructions for proper use of the stove quickly and are happy to hold the adults accountable until they get it right.

Out of the misery of the COVID pandemic children learn how to save lives and improve the health of their families. We must continue to challenge the plight of impoverished families on all fronts, by collaborating with them side by side to reverse the critical health issues of COVID and indoor smoke pollution. The latter takes more lives from them annually than any other cause.
 

Just the Facts: 

• 38 villages + 3 more waiting

• 665 stoves

• 2,648 people

Your donations are at work now bringing better health to children and their families. A special thanks to the many who continue to support us in this long term grassroots effort to enable families to help themselves. If you are new to the project, check out our news section on our website to see your donations implemented on the ground in the Kodaikanal area of Tamil Nadu, India.

Ann Peck, Executive Director